Scaffold



Nov. 7, 1933. P. J. PICCIRILLI 1,934,000

SCAFFOLD Original Filed Aug. 15, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR Pasqz/a/eJ P/cc/rM/z N Bra w A TTORNE Y6 Nov. 7, 1933. P. J. PlcciRlLu 1,934,000-

S CAFFOLD Original Filed Aug. 15, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 dy/b" ATTORNEiS Nov. 7, 1933. P. J. PICCIRILLI 1,934,000

SCAFFOLD Original Filed Aug. 15. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN E IO Pasqaa/e Jf/cc/fl/lz A TTORNE Y8 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT optics Application August 15, 1929, Serial No. 386,015

- Renewed December 29, 1932 3 Claims. (01. 304-1) This invention relates to scaiTolds, such as are used by brick-layers, carpenters and other artisans. 7

One object of the invention is the provision of 5 such a scaffold which readily may be knocked down, moved to a new location, and there reerected. r 1

Another object is the provision of such a knockdown scaffold which, when erected, stable and therefore safe.

A further object is the provision, in, such a knock-down scaffold, of means for securely supporting a safety-rail, a toe-board and a canvas shield.

A still further object is the provision of such a knock-down scaffold which is simple in construction and operation and which may be manufactured economically.

In the conventional type of scaffold, the several parts are nailed together. Thereforawhenever it is desired to move such a scaifold to a new location, as from one floor ofa building to another floor, it becomes necessary-totear it apart and later practically rebuild it. This involves considerable labor cost and delay, both of which are minimized in the present invention.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated the present preferred embodiment thereof, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the knock down scaifold erected in operative position, the customary canvas shield being indicated in dot-anddash lines.

Figure 2 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of a post and appurtenant parts embodying the in- 'vention.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a toe-board retaining element comprising one feature of the invention,

Figure 5 is a side view of another form of scaffold post and its support,

Figure 6 is a front view of the post and its associated parts.

Referring to the drawings (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) a platform 2 is supported on horses, such as 1. Adapted to be positioned near the outer portion of the platform is a toe-board 3. A supporting assembly, designated generally by the reference numeral 4, is operatively mounted on the platform 2 near the extreme outer edge thereof. This supporting assembly comprises a plurality of posts, such as 5, which are preferably made of wood. Embracing the lower end of each such post is a metal cam-shaped shoe, such as 6.; Extending through the post and the'walls of the shoe is a pivot bolt '7, the opposite ends of which are supported in the arms of a bracket 3. Also supported in the arms of this bracket, extending through the post 5 and the walls of the shoe 6, and readily removable therefrom is a second bolt 9. Slidable along the post 5 is a toe-board brace 1G, provided with an aperture 11 for embracing said post, and a slot 12 for engaging the upper edge of said toeeboard. The bracket-8 is provided with a foot portion 13, having a plurality of penetrating elements or spurssuch as 14. Secured to the top of the post 5 is a strap 15, adapted to receive safety-rail members such as 16, which are operatively retained in position by means'of a wedge 17, driven between the inher surface of the top of the strap and the upper of the overlapping layer members. Attached to the post 5 near the upper end thereof isa screw-eye 18, and attached to the bracket 8 is a similar screw-eye 19 The purpose of these screw-,eyes is to support a canvas shield 20.

The mode of operation of the device is as follows: when it is desired to movev the scaffold to a new location, the canvas shield 20 is detached from its supporting screw-eyes; the brace 10 is raised; thereby releasing the toe-board 3; the

bolt ,9 is withdrawn and the post 5 is swung inwardly to the position indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, thus disengaging the bracket 8 from the platform 21' 'With the several parts moved to the new location, the horses such as 1 are placed in position; the platform 2 is mount- '90 ed thereon; each of the brackets such as 8 is placed in position with its foot 13 beneath the outer portion of the platform; and each post such as 5 is swung upward, and, when in vertical position, its bolt 9 is inserted through the bracket '95 arms, the post and the sides of the shoe. The toe-board 3 is then set on edge and properly positioned, and its brace 10 is placed over it. As appears from Fig. 2, the upward movement of post 5 causes the lower surface of the shoe 6 to become imbedded in the wooden platform, and the cam pressure exerted results in forcing the spurs such asl l into the lower surface of the platform. The posts are thereby securely locked in position on the platform.

The ends of the safety-rails 16 are then inserted in the strap 15, and the wedge 17 is driven home. Thereafter, the canvas shield 20 is attached to the screw-eyes such as 13 and 19. The bridge portion 21 (Fig. 3) which connects the two arms of the bracket 8 limits the outward movement of the post 5.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 includes some preferred features. Parts in these views similar to corresponding ones of Figs. 1 to 4, bear like reference characters with the superscript a.

The cam shoe 6 into which the bottom end of the post 5 fits is provided with two runner-like portions 6 extending downward from the floor 6 thereof; said portions being provided at their forward ends with cams 6 serving to gradually bite into the plank 2 when the post is swung to its upright position about its pivot 7 Each runner 6 is also provided with a flat 6 which extends to both sides of a vertical plane in which the axis of the pivot 7 lies, these flats being effective to hold the post in its upright position.

Although each post is held in its upright position by these flat portions 6 a bolt 9 is provided I to lock the post in this position to prevent knocking down accidentally. The bolt 9 is carried by 'two brackets 6 on the shoe 6 and can be slid "up and down therein, the lower end of said bolt engaging behind a bridge. portion or cross bar :21 connecting the two side arms of the bracket 8 which supports the pivot bolt W.

When the post 5 is swung towards its upright position, the lower end of the bolt 9 engages on top of the cross bar 21 and is pushed upwardly thereby in the brackets, 6 As the post reaches its extreme upright position the bolt 9 drops behind the bar 21 and thus looks it in this position. In order to knock down the post 5 it is first necessary to pull up the bolt 9 until its lower end is clear of the cross bar 21 whereupon the post may be swung down about its pivot 7 The upward movement of the bolt 9 is limited by a shoulder 9 which engages the upper ear 6, its downward movement being limited by a head 9. With this arrangement the bolt is always carried by the shoe and is not subject to loss like a detachable bolt. Another advantageous feature of this type of bolt is that it drops into its locking position automatically thus requiring no attention when setting up the post.

The foot portion 13 of the bracket 8 is provided with pointed ribs 14 extending across said foot from side to side. 7 These ribs embed themselves into the bottom of the plank 2 due to the action of the cams 6 and thus secure the bracket to the planks of the scaffold. It will be understood that the sides of the bracket 3: are connected at the bottom by the foot 13 and at the top by the cross bar 21 Another cross bar 21 also connects the sides of the bracket.

The planks 2 are usually placed in overlapping relation at each horse l as indicated in Fig. 6 and it is at these places where the assembly 4 is to be attached to the scaffold so that the upper ends of the post are all at the same level. Thus the foot 13 is far enough away from the shoe 6 to permit of insertion of two planks between them. By this arrangement it is impossible to attach the assembly except at the proper place.

It will be understood that the toe board, canvas shield 20 and guard rail l6 may be attached to the posts 5 in a manner similar to that described in connection with similar parts in Figs. 1 to 4.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a knock-down scaffold, the combination of a platform, a post supported thereby, means for locking said post to said platform, a toe-board supported on said platform, and means slidable with reference to said post for retaining said toeboard in position. 2. In combination, a bracket member, a metallic sleeve pivotally carried by said bracket member, said metallic sleeve having cam shaped portions extending therefrom, and said bracket member having a foot portion extending therefrom facing and spaced from said last named cam shaped portion, said sleeve and bracket being constructed and arranged to grip a platform member therebetween when said sleeve is moved to an upright position.

3. In combination a bracket member, a metallic sleeve pivotally carried by said bracket member, said metallic sleeve having cam shaped portions extending therefrom, and said bracket member having afoot portion extending therefrom facing and spaced from said last named cam shaped portion, said sleeve and bracket being constructed and arranged to, grip a platform member therebetween when said sleeve is moved to an upright position, a post mounted in said bracket member, a toe board, and means slidable with reference *to said post for retaining said toe-board in position.

PASQUALE J. PICCIRILLI. 

